Oct. 19, 2012

Scientists in the Dark Over Birth of the Moon

SNACK

Space Pastry

tails. player here

Most scientists agree that the Moon was born when a planet-sized object smashed into the young Earth. But the details are foggy -- two papers in Science this week present very different scenarios for that collision. Planetary scientist Erik Asphaug says he wonders if the riddle of the Moon's formation may ever be solved.

In the SciFri Snack, Earth and Planetary scientist Erik Asphaug shares a secret recipe for a delicious space pastry: Take one small planet named Theia and one Earth. Collide at the perfect angle and speed, and allow to spin for -- well, we’re still not sure about that part. Hear more SciFri Snacks at SoundCloud.